_The majesty of God in the church: his order to gather saints. The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies, but in sincerity of obedience._ A Psalm of Asaph. _TITLE._ ףּלאס מזמור _MIZMOR LEASAPH. A PSALM OF ASAPH_— _For Asaph._ Or, according to the Chaldee paraphrast, "A psalm by the hand of Asaph;" wh... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF ZION, THE PERFECTION OF BEAUTY— "Here," says Dr. Delaney, "the Almighty kept his court; and from hence he sent out his ambassadors, the prophets, to publish his decrees to the whole world around him, with more ease and speedier conveyance than could possibly have been done from any other regi... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR GOD SHALL COME— That is _Christ._ Now there are three comings of Christ expressed in the Scripture; the first in humility, in our flesh and nature; the last in glory, for the judging of the whole world; and an intermediate coming, in which he was to effect mighty works by the power of his Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL CALL TO THE HEAVENS— Mr. Mudge reads the 5th verse in a parenthesis, and renders the 4th verse thus; _He calleth to the heavens above, and to the earth, in order for the trial of his people._... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, O MY PEOPLE— The prophet here, as in Psalms 50:5 introduces God the Father, speaking to the church. _I will testify against thee,_ is rendered by Castalio, _while I give thee this notice;_ namely, "of my establishing a new law with the members of the Christian church, and entering into a coven... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW ALL THE FOWLS OF THE MOUNTAINS— _I know all the fowls of the air._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFER UNTO GOD, &C.— In these two verses is expressed the establishment of the Christian service, the spiritual oblation of prayer and thanksgiving. By _thanksgiving_ here may be meant not only the blessing God for all his mercies in general; but also that eucharistical sacrifice, in which we partic... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO THE WICKED GOD SAITH— The prophet now proceeds, as from the mouth of God, to foretel the destruction of the impenitent Jews; who, having received the law of God, and entered into covenant with him, yet would not be reformed by the preaching of Christ, who came to fulfil the law, and to make... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU SAWEST A THIEF, &C.— In this and the two following verses are represented the notorious vices of the synagogue, which was extremely corrupt in the time of Christ. Mudge renders the latter clause of the 19th verse, _thy tongue addeth deceit to deceit;_ and the 20th verse, _Thou art continua... [ Continue Reading ]
I KEPT SILENCE— Or, as at Psalms 50:3. _I delayed,_ or _let thee alone._ "I deferred to cut thee off, that thou mightest have time for repentance. And this delay, this indulgence and patience of mine, thou seemedst to think, was an approbation of those actions, and an encouragement to proceed secure... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONSIDER THIS— Here God must be supposed to have delivered up the wicked man to punishment irreversible; and upon that, to speak these two verses. Upon this supposition, _lest I tear,_ &c. comes in very pertinently. See Hosea 13:7. The last verse sums up what had been the two principal points of... [ Continue Reading ]